How to Prevent Birds from Crashing Into Your Windows

Thump. We've all heard that sickening sound when a bird hits a window. It's so sad! Even if a bird flies away, it's usually injured and will die.

Birds don't "see" glass, especially if it's reflecting the surrounding landscape, which is usually does. Some birds, will "attack" their reflection in the window during breeding season. Cardinals are especially known for doing this.

If you think about how a bird flies through narrow branches in a tree, it's easier to understand how they just need to "see" a narrow opening to fly through. So a window is just a reflection of their world. As an example, look at this photo of a swallow flying through a narrow opening:

Barn swallow flying through a narrow opening

Bird-window collisions have a huge impact on bird populations. Scientists estimate that a bird hits a window every 9 seconds! That means an estimated 1 billion birds die annually from striking windows.

How can we prevent birds from crashing into our windows?

What we've tried that didn't work:

• Placing a hawk silhouette in the middle of the window. Birds got used to the predator silhouette and hit areas around the hanging silhouette.  Here's an image of a hawk silhouette:

• Sticky decals spaced far apart on a window. Birds hit the areas not covered by the decal. We didn't place the decals close enough.  Here's what FLAP, a bird advocacy group, recommends for placing decals effectively:



Examples of how best to apply window decals. Source: FLAP



• Window screens that are part of the window. Birds still hit the screen and then the hard window right behind it.

What we've tried that did work, but isn't the best for our windows or us:

• Hanging reflective "scare" tape in long strips on the window frame. It works great! I used adhesive tape to attach the top of the strip to the window frame so the tape would move around in the breeze. But the tape left a sticky residue on the frame -- oops. And the flashing reflected back inside our house. The wind often blew the tape off the window frame. It was messy. But, it kept the birds from crashing into the window.

What we're trying this year:

• Scare tape attached to suction cup hooks. Scare tape worked well, but attaching it with adhesive tape wasn't a good idea. I'll try the suction cup hooks instead. Scare tape comes in different widths and can be purchased on Amazon. Suction cup hooks can also be purchased on Amazon.
• String wind curtain. This is just a row of thick string spaced every 6 inches and placed on the outside of the window. You can make your own or buy them at Bird Savers. I'll be using removable hooks attached to my window frames to hang the string curtain. You can buy suction cups with hooks also that attach right to the window.

Bird Savers string wind curtain. Source: Acopia Bird Savers

Bird Savers string wind curtain. Source: Acopia Bird Savers

• Feather guards: This is such a simple idea. Attach feathers to fish line and hang them on windows. Apparently, the feathers trigger a danger response in birds. It also breaks up the window opening and it adds movement to scare away the birds. But, like all deterents, they have to be spaced no further apart then 6 inches. You can purchase feather guards on Amazon, or make them yourself. Here's a video on how to make them - note that we'd place these 6-inches apart, not 16 inches:
  
  
  

Other methods from ornithology experts:

Scientists that study backyard birds have researched methods for preventing window collisions. Here's a list of what they recommend.

• Bird tape. The American Bird Conservancy recommends applying a special tape to your windows to break up the reflection. It can be purchased on ABC's Web site.
• Bird screen and netting. Screens or netting placed at least 2 inches from the window keeps birds from hitting the hard glass. Birds will still hit the screen, but apparently, most survive that unharmed. It's been 100% effective at preventing window collision deaths at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Here's a photo from their Web site showing the bird netting covering a window: 

Bird netting covering a window at
Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Source Cornell Lab of Ornithology

• Artistic window film. FLAP, a bird advocacy group, recommends this along with many other methods for preventing bird window collisions. Be sure to visit the FLAP Web site for more info. There's also a window film called "Collide Escape" that's available on Amazon. 

Artistic window film. Source: ABC

• Soap. Yes, soap. Take a bar of soap and make squiggly lines 6-inches apart on the outside of your windows. It works, but looks pretty funny. Eventually, it will wash off. The American Bird Conservancy has a flyer with information on how to apply the soap.
  

What works for you?

Have you found a method to keep birds from crashing into your window? If so, please share it with us!